While I was on my vacation in Italy a few years back, I recall a conversation that I will never forget. As I was starring at the ceiling of the Sistine chapel I said out loud “this is the most beautiful place in the world�. A gentleman next exclaimed “then you must have never been to Guatemala�? I took more offense to this comment more than I should because I am Guatemalan, I mean yes I was born in America, have a Mexican mother, but still consider myself Guatemalan. I guess it is true that we are our father’s seed.
You may ask why I took more of an offense. Reason is at that point I had never been to Guate, as the conversation got more in depth with this gentleman he helped me understand that the most beautiful things in the world are those that were made naturally by God. Many people can make a beautiful painting, build a nice car, building, etc. But raw natural beauty is in a class of its own. No surprise to how Guatemala is often referred to Guatelinda.
Daniel A. Contreras
Interesting comment Daniel, I beleive your situation is quite particular, since, I assume, you grow up in EEUU or Europe, and I wouldn’t say that is your fault, or you should feel bad about it, I know friends and I have relatives in Guate that have never been to Tikal, for instance, or to Jalapa or Cobán, not because they can’t, since it’s no so hard to travel in our country, everything is relatively close, but because they don’t really care, which is im my particular opinion a shame.
I live abroad and I miss our country badly, and everytime that i go I try to escape for a few days to discover new places, last new years eve, I took a few days trip to Huehue, which I highly recommend, los Cuchumatanes are an impressive place that you should see at list once in your lifetime.
warmest regards.
It´s a matter of taste, i guess. I adore my country, i´m proud of being guatemalan. And yes, i think God makes the best things on earth, even us, who do shameful things. Nature is something amazing even for those who don´t believe in a Supreme entity. Guatemala has so many beautiful things to share. It´s a pitty what we do with this gift.
You are right, Daniel. I’ve been in the U.S. for almost eight years and it’s until now that I appreciate all the beautiful places we have in Guatemala. And I’m talking about the little tiny villages you find in the “Altiplano” that remind you how beautiful simple things are. My dream has always been to travel to Italy and spend some time in a small village near the ocean; but I’ve promised myself that I won’t do that until I spend some time in Monterrico or Totonicapan. We need paramethers of comparison to come and say that a place is more beautiful than other. Guatemala, in my humble opinion, is on the top five in the world. The problem is that our goverment and people don’t really appreciate all that we have and never make the most of our natural resources.
I totally agree with Ale, I do the same thing when I go to Guate, but you don’t need to go far to appreciate the beauty of the country. I got used to see the mountains and volcanoes everyday when I lived there, but now that I don’t, I appreciate the beautiful scenery that I see everywhere when I set foot in Guatemala City. Best wishes to all!!
Since I was born in the beauty of what most people know as Guatemala, I have no regrets in saying that the ignorance of most guatemalans living abroad is so inmeasurable, that make me feel sad when ask them if they know the real name of such lovely place and it’s answer is Guatemala, don’t they know that the real name is NUESTRA NUEVA GUATEMALA DE LA ASUNCION??
figures! I almost forgot that some, did not went to school>>>> Any how, here is a little hint and do not thank me for the lesson….
From Canadá: CHEERS
Thank you for such beautiful words Daniel. Beyond your appreciation for Guatemalan landscape, I admire your pride in your father’s heritage.
I am glad that you are a Chapin, for it is a matter of the heart more than anything else. Like my kids (as of yet unborn) with a southamerican mother, probably born in the US, and regardless of how soon they go to Guatemala, they’ll be chapines since conception. And what makes you chapin if not the love you have shared with those two paragraphs? As oppossed to citizenship, nationality is not a matter of geographical location, but of identification and cultural ties, as well as willingness to support a nation.
Thanks again for your words that have made me reflect on why I should be ever prouder to be Guatemalan.
PS. To Tony: You are correct in the name as it belongs to the capital: Guatemala City, for the country’s official name is Republic of Guatemala.
Entiendo el sentimiento de Daniel, pero a la larga es comprensible, pues bienvenido a Guatemala la tierra de tus antepasados.
Saben que si es triste? decir lo mismo y haber nacido y vivir toda tu vida aqui y les garantizo que hay mucha gente que se llenan la boca de conocer miami y seguro podrian decir lo mismo soy chapin y no conozco Guatemala!!
saludos
ME ENCANTA ESTA CANCION Y LA QUIERO COMPARTIR CON AQUELLOS QUE NO LA CONOSCAN.
GUATEMALA DE LA ASUNCION
COMO AS CRECIDO
Y SIGUES SIENDO TAN BELLA
COMO AS CAMBIADO
Y SIGUE FIRME TU HUELLA
RECUERDO QUE LLEGARON A TI HUYENDO DE TERREMOTOS
Y TU LES HABRISTE LA PUERTA SIN IMAGINAR
QUE UN DIA TUS HIJOS PUDIERAN VOLAR
GUATEMALA DE LA ASUNCION
CORAZON DE LA ETERNA PRIMAVERA
GUATEMALA DE LA ASUNCION
TACITA DE PLATA REPLETA CON GENTE DE ORO
LA PLAZA DE LA CONSTITUCION
A SIDO MUDO TESTIGO DE NUESTRO ACUERDO DEPAZ
TU BELLEZA ES NATURAL BARROCA Y COLONIAL
FORJADA DEL FUEGO DE TU GENTE
GUATEMALA DE LA ASUNCION
CORAZON DE LA ETERNA PRIMAVERA
GUATEMALA DE LA SUNCION
UNA MESCLA DE ARQUITECTURA Y CORAZON
SABES A BUñUELO A FIAMBRE Y ATOL
MIENTRA TUS PAISAJES TE PONEN COLOR
EL TEATRO DEDICADO A ASTURIAS SE PINTA DE AZUL
DE VERDDE SE TIñEN LAS RUINAS DE CAMINAL JUYU
Y DE BLANCO EL CAMINO QUE FALTA PINTAR
GUATEMALA DE LA ASUNCION
CORAZON DE LA ETERNA PRIMAVERA
GUATEMALA DE LA ASUNCION
TACITA DE PLATA REPLETA CON GENTE DE ORO
GUATEMALA DE LA ASUNCION
CORAZON DE LA ETERNA PRIMAVERA
GUATEMALA DE LA ASUNCION
UNA MESCLA DE GENTE Y CORAZON
ASI ES MI…..GUATEMALA DE LA ASUNCION!!!
I love to hear stories like this. When I was single I had the blessing to get to know my country first, and there are few places which I do not know yet but I have them on the future to visit them. My husband is from COsta Rica so we spend some time there and Guate..he said that he has been blessed by being part of two beautiful countries.
I agree with Agapito..you have to go to Huehue and go to Tajumulmco too by around november when you can take beautiful pictures at the top of all the vulcanos. It is breathtaking…you feel that God is talking and huging you..
wow, is very hard to confirm the fact that, as el tierno said, I am guatemalan, living here, and I really don`t know a lot of places here. but I think that is not because I am not interested at all, but sometimes, it seems most attractive to visit other countries…fortunetely, I had visited a lot of countries and cities in the world, not only miami, but, believe me..I am going to try to visit by myself the beauties of Guate.
Alguien tiene la letra del poemea “El Hijo Ausente” de Jose Carlos Chiquin, es precioso, si la tienen, por favor pongala en este espacio!!! o me la mandan. Al oirlo, y estando tan lejos, se me erizo el pelo, y el sentimiento de chapina hasta los huesos me salio desde adentro. Te amo Guate.
Lidia, puedes encontrar la letra del poema aquÃ:
http://www.guate360.com/blog/2007/03/20/carta-de-un-hijo-ausente/
HEY DANIEL! FOR SURE GUATEMALA IS ALWAYS WAITING FOR YOU.
me gusta mi pais
Guatemala es un bello pais de eso no hay duda, lamentablemente algunas personas tienen que salir de el buscando nuevas oportunidades, tal es mi caso, yo resido aqui en U.S.A. pero siempre estoy en contacto con GUATE ya sea escribiendo en los diferentes blogs o viendo las galerias de fotos pues en Guatemala hemos sido bendecidos con tantas bellezas naturales,algunas de las cuales tuve la oportunidad de conocer, pero otras pero que algun dia lo hare, y en lo que se refiere a aspectos culturales pues no nos podemos quejar, tenemos musica autoctona una increible historia de nuestros ancestros Mayas, costumbres y tradiciones, pero lo mas lindo es la amabilidad de la gente su calidez y sinceridad, habran sus excepciones pero bueno asi es la vida, siempre que tengas la oportunidad de visitar nuestro bello pais interesate en ir a los museos, empapate de nuestra cultura, compra libros de autores nacionales ve a la galerias de arte, que pueden tener desde un cuadro primitivista ( artista sin formacion academica, autodidacta} pinturas costumbristas, modernas y contemporaneas, en arquitectura tambien hay su buena cuota bellos edificios monumentos que evocan la Guatemala de antano, barrios de leyendas, para citar un ejemplo El barrio Gerona, monumentos coloniales la Antigua su maxima expresion, ruinas Mayas que nos hablan de un pasado esplendoroso, artesanias diversas, en el mercado central. y no se olviden de ir a JALAPA la tierra donde yo naci visiten el parque ecologico Pino Dulce y las cascadas de Tatasirire es bellisimo! vallan al Gran teatro Miguel Angel Asturias indaguen sobre la historia del mismo y del Rquitecto el Gran Maestro Efrain Recinos y se sorprenderan. bueno es todo por el momento. chao! REBE.
Soma….
Soma radio. Soma in urine….